Leica announces APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH normal prime

Leica has announced the APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH. The company is making grand claims for its latest standard-focal-length prime, which uses specially developed glass to create an apochromatic design to minimize chromatic aberrations. The lens was designed to match the specifications of the existing 50mm f/2 lens - a 1979 design that is the oldest in the company's current lineup. The APO version of the lens will be available from late July 2012 at a cost of around $7,195.

Solms, Germany (May 10, 2012) - Leica Camera AG presents a new milestone in the history of lens construction: the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. With the goal of creating a lens that fully achieves the opportunities offered by high-resolution camera systems, Leica engineers have successfully redefined the limits of what is technically possible. The result is an extremely high-performance lens that sets entirely new standards and currently stands as an exceptional talent amongst the standard lenses of the Leica M portfolio.

This new reference lens achieves the best test results ever seen in the Leica M-Lens program. The MTF curves of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. that describe the contrast of fine details and, in turn, the image sharpness, confirm its outstanding performance. Even the finest details are resolved with more than 50% contrast across the entire image field. This previously unattained value confirms the exceptional positioning of this lens. All images captured with the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. in any photographic situation show extreme sharpness and resolution of details from corner to corner of the image. Additionally, the apochromatic correction of the lens minimizes chromatic aberration on sharp edges to ensure natural rendition of every detail. As a result, photographers benefit from the best possible reproduction results at any print size.

The outstanding performance of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is founded on the perfect interaction of all its design and construction parameters, from optical calculation and choice of materials to the sophisticated and elaborate manufacturing and finishing of the lens. Together with more than 150 years of experience in the design and construction of optical instruments, Leica’s reputation as the manufacturer of the world’s best lenses is once again emphasized.

The new design of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is based on the optical design of its predecessor that has been on the market since 1979 and is the oldest lens represented in the Leica M portfolio. The classical specifications, 50 mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f2, offered an ideal starting point for further development. As such, Leica’s expert lens designers were able to concentrate exclusively on the improvement of imaging quality within these standard specifications.

In its optical design, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is oriented on particular features of the Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. and the Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lenses. For instance, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. also incorporates a floating element. The lens group behind the diaphragm is designed as a floating element that changes its position relative to the front group during focusing, ensuring that the lens achieves outstanding imaging quality throughout its focusing range, including at closer focusing distances.

The realization of the apochromatic correction of the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. involved the use of specially formulated glasses based on original developments from the former Leitz glass laboratory. The use of such glasses requires great effort and many years of experience. As a result of the consistent advancement of optical processes, working with these high-quality glasses has been refined to such a fine art that they are integrated in the best possible quality into Leica lenses as evidenced today in the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH.

As a particularly reliable product with enduring value and made in Germany, the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. is manufactured from only the best materials and is assembled in an elaborate process completely by hand at Leica’s factory in Solms. The combination of cutting-edge technologies and painstaking manufacturing procedures guarantees the consistently excellent quality of every single Leica lens.

The Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH. in black finish will be available from Leica dealers including the Leica Store Washington DC from late July 2012.

Comments

Fantastic MTF curves & no distortion! This lens will surely be a classic for many years to come (say 100 years?). As for price? Above my budget but not necessarily out of the ballpark. Think, the M9 sells for over $7,000 USD and the value of that will halve in a few years. My grandchildren can make great use of this lens while the M9 will be in some junk yard or museum.

While you may argue about what the lens is worth, the reality is that it is worth what the required number of people will pay for it to achieve a revenue objective. The numbers that work for Leica are obviously that fewer will pay more. They amy or may not have got their numbers wrong. But, guys, they are a business not a fan club.

There was no anger intended. Yes chriscotec is absolutely right. These lenses are way too expensive. There are pleanty of Prime lens not at a prime price that are incredible. My point was analog was at it's zeinith when these lenses were developed and Digital is at it's infancy. Will these lenses ever be worth this money for digital? No. There are too many variables in there that weren't in there when analog needs were being satisfied for the photographers that were OCD enough to see how far they could push a tiny neg. when bigger negs. were to be had are gone...almost. Besides it's two very different mediums with very different needs. But these are the best in the world, unfortunately leica has tried to play the elitist card too long and to their detriment and everyone elses. Photographic lenses should be affordable to working photographers - period.

People always think that a thing has an inherent objective absolute value that is set and that if you get too far from their perceived value that it is just crazy.

Price is never stagnant. It is a dynamic interaction between a curve representing the points at which providers are willing to sell interacting with the points at which buyers would be willing to buy. Big simplification but the two main points are that it is never static and that each of 7 billion hominins on this rock have a very different take on value.

YOURS IS NOT SUPERIOR IN ANY WAY NO MATTER HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE; Because there is no accepted universal objective measure on almost anything, let alone this issue.

Many of these angry ninnies spend thousands on vices in a single year. Any of you ranters about Leica smoke? Killing yourself to the cost of thousands of dollars while ranting against someone who finds German glass superior to your little toy L glass? Boozers? How much Geld?

Hey man. Did you actually attempt to read that back before you clicked "post"? Too many words and a bit too angry, if you ask me.

Anyway, I've made a decent living for a couple of decades with my "little toy L glass". I have quite a few friends who would say the same. We are in the photography business because we can afford to buy the excellent Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, etc. equipment we need to do our job. In the last ten years I have only come across one professional photographer who uses Leica equipment. Even he complains about the cost. I greatly respect leica equipment (as well as the vintage Zeiss Contax rangefinder equipment, some of which I am lucky enough own). The sad truth is that, for practical purposes Leica is priced beyond the reach of working professionals and, in most cases, does not match the versatility of modern DSLR or mirrorless systems. The price of this lens takes the definition of overpriced to a new level.

It wasn't untill I printed mine at 60x40 (Ilford Delta 400/ HC 110/ Schneider HM/ Handheld) that I became a believer. Maybe the real problem is the digital age just doesn't appreciate or need the level of MOJO Leica M has.

If you really need a 50mm apo lens to take pictures on your Leica, look round and you can probably pick up an excellent condition used 50mm APO Switar adapted to M-mount with rangefinder coupling for 20% or less of the price of this lens.

I really don't think the extra thousands spent on this 50mm Sumicron are going to get you noticeably better photographs on an M9. With the Switar you'd also have a true classic.

At the time they were made, Alpa were more esoteric and costly than Leica.

I am at a loss to understand the complaints about LEICA prices..Everybody knows that Leica are the Rolls Royce and come with a price to match. Why? because they can.You want cheap, there is a second hand "Happy times" camera on e-bay. You want top quality cheaper, may I suggest Cannon or Nikkon. You want Leica, may I suggest selling the house, car, wife and Kids...You KNOW it is going to cost.Half of the ability top produce results is the camera.Half of the ability of a camera to produce results is the "FEEL"that the photographer gets when he /she picks the camera up. a leica "FEELS" like no other camera. My shots with my EOS are nothing like my shots with my Leica. They are of the same tech specs, but "FEEL" Totally different.If I want a 50mm shot I can choose either set up. It depends on the "FEEL" that I am after, as to which one I use for the shot.

If you want a Leica, then only a Leica will do, and you are going to part with some serious money. But you already know that.

Because, even for Leica, the price of this 50mm Sumicron lens is astounding. It shares very a similar optical formula to some other current Leica M lenses that are much less costly - and can't really cost significantly more to make.

I am professional photographer I have sold images and done assigments and one awards with holgas, iphones, and compact consumer cameras. Half of the ability lies in the camera thats a laugh. All the camera offers is the ability to utilize your knowledge and skill. DSLRs do this best. a leica is not even particularly good. that is why people are astounded by leica. cuz they arent worth it

I have never heard so much ininformed bull in my life.And you spell won as "one"? You have zero cred in my eyes.The so called ability is from the creative talent of the photogs mind. The camera is just a dumb as a doorknob tool.You think if I use a 10,000 dollar chisel I can create a Michelagelo level sculpture? C'mon man. You know next to zero about photography apparently.

It must be a typo, that price. Why buy for 7195Euros, when you can get the Noctilux for not much more. 1795Euro is a more likely price.

Edit. Nope, that is the correct price. I have just looked on the Local Leica Dealers Website. UK Price £5400! Leica have a nice system, with great small lenses, but that price is just plain stupid! Anyone with a Leica get the old Summicron or even better, the F1.4 Summilux. FAR better value (for a Leica!)

Mind you, with the Chinese buying up anything Leica, so I am sure it will sell well there........

Older cron is a better 'value', sure. The lux is much more, a lot more weight and size (relative to the cron), and one stop more light. Not as good of a value, but there if you want that extra stop. And if you want this level of performance and it'll make a different to your prints, nothing else matches and that's the price you have to pay.

7 grand for a 50mm prime?Now I know there is a lot of mental illness in the world, but now I see that there is much more than I thought.Mental illness, mental ignorance, mental pride, mental retardation.And there will always be those such as Leica who will capitalize on the problem.It's sorta like how the lottery scams prey on gambling addicts.Shame on all those who take advantage of the mental illness and maladjusted minds of others.Shame on you Leica. It's time to ask yourself... exactly what is your contribution to society anyways?

I wouldn't necessarily compare this to a lottery ticket. Look at the lenses Leica has created in the last 50-70 years. All have held their value or have gone up relative to inflation. All this and the best optics available at the time? This doen't sound like a gamble but a good investment...if you like to use these kinds of lenses that is.

I had such a great time shooting some 35,000 Kodachrome images in just 4 years using Leica cameras and glass, but now that that film is gone, there is NO reason to use the overpriced stuff. You can take a D800 and 35mm 1.4G and match the Leica look in post in a matter of minutes if not seconds.

I'm sorry, but in the digital age, there is no reason whatsoever to use Leica with the way they have priced this stuff. 7 grand for a 50/2 that in the hands of the talentless hacks in the Leica forum on this site? You have seriously lost it Leica. getting rid of that stuff was the best thing I ever did.

Comparing an SLR to a rangefinder lens is kind of obnoxious. Unfortunately you cant create the same look in post thats why people pay for the best lenses. The 35mm 1.4g is twice the size of this lens with more distortion and the MTF curves don't even compare. Not to mention the nikon lens is plastic and sells for $1800 USD!

If you want to minimize CAs for a monochrome camera, you need to optimize the lens. This will be a very technical lens, for special purposes, but the current lenses are still in production - nobody is forced to buy this lens or any Leica lens.

The old summicron 50 performs better than most modern designs.

This type of lens is indeed needed if you want as little distortion, as little CAs, ... as possible on any given sensor - most complains here are about price, special lenses have a special price tag. I like the idea that such a lens is available.I even have an application for it other than blowing money or collecting dots - Btw. M-lenses do not carry the red dot symbol.

You can get made-in-Germany Schneider apo lenses that cover a much larger field of view and have a built in shutter for a fraction of the cost of this lens.

This is undoubtedly an excellent lens - but, unless you believe they are actually made by gnomes and fairies in the Black Forest with coating made from nano crystal pixie dust, you are getting scalped by Leica when you buy one. But then again it is your money.

horses for courses boys, and some race horses cost more than others, and all owners have fun....lets move on....AND whats the difference with Nikon/Canon boys :) shooting 300/400/500/600 primes worth as much for their photography?

I'm now convinced that at least half the folks at Leica need their heads examined. Just what sort of a con are they trying to pull here?I know optics and I know what is needed for photography and this ain't it.This is pure madness and unbridaled materialism all rolled into a filthy and corrupt little ball. Hey Leica - why don't you just bite me.

It is probably not the folks at Leica who need their heads examined but some of their customers that still believe they make these cameras and lenses primarily for photographers.

Judging from from where they have been opening showrooms and from their special editions their primary target market for these cameras is now financial traders, rich orientals and arab sheiks - and they price them accordingly.

Selling just one of these lenses would cover Leica's development costs, a couple more and the advertisement department and all the employees are happy, then the rest just pure profit for the little red symbol ~

Since it's been in development for 16 years, that would give them $450 a year to keep development ticking along. Methinks you're being a tad optimistic. $450 a year wouldn't keep Peter Karbe in chewing gum!

Oh? Is there another APO out there with similar MTF graphs? There may be another that works better for you personally but nothing else that will deliver the same resolution and such low level of abherations at those apertures to the sensor. Whether it can record it or not. Presumably the one in MM can, to a degree.

It sure seems like the best 50 out there. Now, I wasn't complaining about the pre-APO one either. But if you want the next level, here it is..

Maybe if your are talking not about VRay, render farm and a team of 3DMAX modelers you might remove aberrations.

But using Leica APO instead will let you save a lot of money more than 7K plus it would be pure photography that is what photographers do care a bout right not computer gimmicks but photography? and will let you get result instantly BTW

The flat image without building 3D model and performing computer intensive calculations like ray tracing cannot be corrected it might be distorted only :)

@shaocaholicaI believe chasing perfection should be encouraged. I can not understand why you are criticizing Leica for aiming at perfection, especially being a commercial company spending their own capital and energy. This is what brings progress and evolution and has brought humanity to where it is now. Whether it fits your bill is another matter.

What about people in the dark ages, it would've been so nice and simple, all those stone and bone tools?

lxstorm, I don't kow what you're talking about, I sell my pictures since 1995 and no one ever notice a trace of CA in my images, and now Lightroom removes CA automatically and very well. Even my Hasselblad lenses costs half of that price and are perfect too..

To me, the pricing of the new Leica prime indicates Leica camera's unprecedented dependency on the optics department to make themselves living/or to acquire their anticipated growth rate. And this is based on their self-assurance of the price-insensitivity of their direct customer buying their new Ms.

Leica M primes have always been keeping the most value when you sell lenses off. I am not sure after this apo summicron...

So is Leica a photography company or scientific instrument company? Isn't it kind of sterile to have a lens thats super sharp across the whole field? Not to say there isn't a use for a lens like that but it seems like it wouldn't suit a lot of the artsy folk.

Even big budget movies go out of their way to add in lens distortions and aberrations in post to add some extra character to shots. Its great to have super sharp and undistorted footage to composite CG with before adding a bunch of imperfections but thats not what Leica's are used for.

They actually are, and while I am not aware of their full range of products they definitely are regarded as one of the best manufacturers of geodesy equipment and sell total station, GPS, theodolites, etc systems some of which easily cost in the order of €100k. I find it sad to hear people criticize excellence just because they can not make use of it or afford it.

I have voiced an opinion here some times now. I can do it once more. Now not as an answer to some complaints about price, but as a post of its own.

Yes - the camera and the lenses are expensive. There are more expensive lenses. But for the specs they are expensive. 35 mm F2.0 FF lenses are normally not this price.

But - for me the only thing that matters is if the Leica cameras and lenses adds anything essential to photography. Do good photographer buy Leicas and extend their possibilities and make fantastic images? Is that so? Please tell me?

Because if its not the case and Leicas only are rich mans toys - then its just marginally interesting IMHO.

There is a love affair with brands of cameras that some do not get. I appreciate leica, and their prices really reflect economies of scale. They might make 1000 of these lenses. (If that) and the development and production costs of such a small run are pretty high. Canikon have much larger economies of scale to work with. Personally I'm a pretty avid pentaxian, so I get the cult of manufacturers. Pentax is making some very odd moves lately, but they still claim they will stand by dslrs. so when I finally upgrade to a k5 I will be good for a couple more years, but I'm really hoping that they go fullframe. Aps-c seems like it might be a footnote in the history of dslrs. Full frame is going to get cheap enough to offset aps. All the manufacturers would have preferred to go with full frame from the get go, so it will likely be the future for the dslr and mirrorless systems might find a niche in aps....pentax and fuji sure see that potential for a sensor that size. I think m4/3 is going to go away first and quickly. Just a hunch. All these manufacturers have flirted with weird formats. They can revamp production to suit the market. They have all jumped ship before. Except leica oddly enough. They stuck with the rangefinder since day 1. That's why people like them overall. People like rangefinders. I think fuji is smart and realizing this. Ricoh too with their m mount module. I don't get the richoh interchangable mount concept overall (too digital for me I think), but I see a lot of potential. I would be shocked if they don't produce a k mount module now, but the pentaxians would be all screaming and dumping their systems en masse. To me it makes sense. The dslr is probably a dinosaur, but I always like shooting the old school way with all manual and mf glass. A lot of leica shooters feel the same way and have the best optics for the most part to enjoy it with. Asides from the price, what's not to like? People like hasselblad for a lot of the same reasons.

Cosina-Voiglander make all kinds of lenses in even shorter runs - maybe not quite up to the standards of the best Leica lenses optically, but they are very well built and sell at a fraction of the cost.

I doubt Voigtlander lenses are built by hand. They also don't put as much energy into perfect optical design. That said, they make great lenses. I think you made a good point, they are not as good optically or mechanically as Leica. I also doubt Leica is making lots of money on these lenses. Leicas "prices reflect economies of scale" but don't belittle the amount of work(money) it takes to design such excellent optics.

So now Leica has five 50mm lenses in its range. What's to complain about? A few people may buy it if they become fixated on getting the best possible performance at f2. The older Summicron and the cheaper Summarit lenses are still available, so is a 50mm f2 from Zeiss and there are lots of second hand lenses out there. Nobody, even Leica M9 owners, has to buy this lens.

I don't know why people complain about the price. A simple Hasselblad HCD 4-5.6/35-90 mm Zoom lens which is made by Fuji, cost 6.300 Euro. A Canon CN-E14.5–60mm T2.6 L, cost 45.000 USD. Nobody complains about the price here, but hey it's Leica, it needs to be bashed.

The Canon covers 35mm full frame, is a zoom that opens with 14mm WA, has a constant f2.6 aperture and is a very complex construction containing more than 4kgs of glass. Comparing it to this little lens is just crazy.

And the Leica isn't expensive, it's an overpriced ripoff for deluded red dot-fanatics. The lens was expensive before, now they increased the price by more than 300%.They are laughing their asses off with every one of the 50 units they sell and treat their costumers like idiots that can be money-milked like cows.

How much of that esoteric superiority do you see once you mount the lens in front of the ancient M9 sensor? Do you need to put MTF charts and red dot-glasses next to the images to be able to see it?

Buy a Nikon D800 and some Zeiss lenses and it will blow this away, and you can even shoot in low light. That won't be that much cheaper, but you get a camera that doesn't have a decade old electronics and can use sensitivities above ISO400.

@Samtendo64, You are assuming that the price of something is largely dependent on the materials it is composed of. While there is some truth to that, the fact is that this lens and many other limited production lenses have a ton of associated development costs that have to be recovered over a very small production run.Yes, they will make a profit and hopefully a handsome one for those willing and able to come up with the money. You have to remember hobbyists will come up with the money for their toys.You find money for yours, these guys just play in a different sandbox.

Besides native Leica M I was owning 50mm & 28mm KONICA HEXANON M. Hexanons were very decent but I found myself not using them pretty soon because they do not stand against Leica M. I do not discover it right away from one or 10 shoots but eventually you do feel that Leica's ones provide better outcome especially being used wide open.

Whether one can justify the premium to pay for German optics or US ICs it depends of course. But that Japan manufactures cannot compete with US ICs like Intel Core I7 or German fluorite lenses that is the fact of reality.

BTW low ISO setting and longer exposure/brighter glass delivers better color depth resolution as well as larger pixels (less megapixels per FF) means better color accuracy more obvious bokeh in the final image that is important for Leica glasses especially.

Regarding Zeiss for 35mm camera market yes Zeiss cines in NEX mount priced like real Zeiss ones and most likely would deliver real Zeiss IQ not just the label on a lens ;)

you must be either a top-notch lens designer or you read a lot of crap in your spare time… why would the quantity of materials, glass or aluminum, make the sales price of a lens…!? The last time I looked, it was the qualities of the lens, the exotic glass and aperture that dictated the price! And how on earth would you know how hard or easy it was for Leica to design and manufacture this lens!? And how would you know how good or bad this lens really is!? Besides, MF lenses may have to cover a larger film/ sensor area, but the lens is sure as hell not anywhere near as close to the sensor as with a Leica RF… think about it… or go ahead with some more drivel.

Lea5, I don't see any facts or arguments that prove your statements in your post. Just a snarky remark to cover up that you don't have any. ;-)

Besides, you can't find out what sensor area a lens covers or how much glass/weight/focal lengths it has by looking at a web-gallery, you need to look at the specs, which you will find on the manufactures website. Google is your friend.

With this lens is going to make sure that leica lenses will cost a lot over the year wheater they are old or new. It is the same like gold. The prices for all other summircon 50 f2 will held their price over the next year. That´s the fact. Leica --------> gold

All that talk about price and mental sanity of buyers. Leica improved what could be improved. It`s called technological progress without which we wouln`t have Nikons 800E, IPads and spaceflights. Some people buy BMW motobikes others Leica lenses.

Well gang, when I brought my three Leica lens, I paid no more then three grand per lens. A 24mm f2.8 asph., 35mm f1.4 asph (the shifty one) and a 90 mm APO f2.0. And the 24mm and 35mm are chrome. Leica does not need a new 7 grand lens, they need a camera.As far as lens go, I had orginally brought a 90mm f2.8, chrome. The 90mm APO is one of Leica best lens to date. I saw little difference between the two 90's.I have learned there those who are photographers and equiment buyers. In the old days one would buy a Hassenblad, you looked for a camera traded in by a doctor (The got to have best and have the money). They sell the camera because it is hard to use. Leica makes all these lens so well and a very sharp and contrasty. Unlike Nikon and Canon they have no dogs. That being said who can afford these lens, maybe used. But above all at no price does Leica offer a good camera. Maybe Leica should just make lens. Their best camera is the M7. "If you have to ask how much..."

Whenever Leica release anything I think there is a rush to be amongst the first to complain about the price. Should Leica build like the Nikon, Canon Olympus etc? just be another volume over quality camera maker, justify the price with more pointless software gadgetry built in.I'm glad the World can still find a place for Leica, I'm glad people still make enough money to buy them.The Leica value will be in this lens in twenty years time, my Canon gear will be worthless by then if it lasts that long.I've never owned a Leica but I'm glad people do. I hope it sells well and I hopeit performs brilliantly even if it's just a bench mark for the others to be judged against.I'd have one.

And what are they worth? my 1DsII or 1DsIII not worth much now and in 10 years time not even efficient paper weights.The lens will be worth nothing as well.I got out of Nikon because at the time the f2.8 70-200mm was a poor joke and not cheap either. I doubt a Leica lens has ever been that bad. Granted the pro cameras of Nikon like Canon will be able to work in 40 years time. But outdated and next to useless.The chances of the lens being useful 10 years from now are slim, how many 15 year old lenses do use on a new Nikon day to day. My two latest model prime L f1.4 lenses are not up to scratch at f1.4, I bet the Leica lenses are very acceptable wide open. The Nikon 28-70 was no great performer either. Yes Canon/Nikon do make some great performers amongst the mass of average products they produce.I see no problem in paying for handmade if that's what you like and can afford. It's not Leicas fault we can't justify spending the money on them.Good luck to them I say.

What does it matter? some will buy them to shoot the pet cat others for assignments. I bet the majority of Nikon or Canons are over the top for what most need. A good point and shoot will do the job, but still they rush to get a 800 because it's flavour of the month or DXO says it's the best. Why if you can't afford it do you need to get hot and bothered by those that can.If I was rich I'd have one why not? If all these rich people are so easily fooled into parting with their wealth how did they get rich in the first place. I really wonder who the mugs are, those that can or those that laugh at them.

PS Although I am not able to afford such a masterpiece of optics, I am just enjoying that such gems are made and would like to thank Leica for doing so.The value or worth of an object is not dependent on possession, you can admire a movie although that marvellous and perfect star won't kiss you ever...

I do not think Leica buyers consider any price to be an issue. For many, it's difficult to grasp, but at a premium pricing, the clientel they are going for is absolutely diffrent from a normal consumer. They flat out don't think about money same way others do.

I actually know a friend who got a Leica M8 and 35 Summilux for 3700 euros from an old lady, who got the camera for holiday pictures. She the proceedeed to buy Oly E-P3. I'm not kidding.

Anyway, i guess Leica is something that Apple was about 5-7 years ago. Unique. You buy it, beacause it's one of a kind, and everyone knows it's premium.

Stilo. You don`t have to be lucky spotting leica asph. in the fleemarket. There`s used market too. I bought from photobussiness some ten years ago a Noctilux for 600 $ just because it had couple hairthin miniscule scratches completely invisible in picture.

i agree... people who buy 3500 euro handbags like my aunt never worked a day in their lifes... and her husband has people who work for him. he spend most of the time at his boat. so money does not have the same value for them. it´s just THERE....

Just think that this might be sharpest, best-color 'renderer', and best against-light 'dealer' lens in the world, and it's worth! But I think Leica could include a kind of GPS sensor to help find it in case being stolen.

Pros aren't buying these, people making money with photography aren't making enough to afford things like this; doctors and lawyers and celebrities and executives are the ones buying photo gear at this level. :)

I guess there is a market for it.... there has to be.... I prefer to to stick to my mark III and 50 1.2L, bear the extra weight and spend the extra $10K I save for a trip in Asia AND a trip in Europe.....:p

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Are you a speed freak? Hungry to photograph anything that goes zoom? Or perhaps you just want to get Sports Illustrated level shots of your child's soccer game. Keep reading to find out which cameras we think are best for sports and action shooting.

At this year's CP+ show in Yokohama, we sat down with senior executives from several major manufacturers, including Canon. Topics of conversation included Canon's ambitions for high-end mirrorless cameras, and the importance of responding to the demands of the smartphone generation.

We were recently able to follow local frame builder Max Kullaway as he created one of his AirLandSea bikes. Here are our picks of the photos we got, as the project progressed from bare tubes all the way to rideable bicycle.

On paper, the Sony a7 III is a tempting option for photographers who've been considering a switch to full-frame mirrorless. But how does its image quality stack up? We compare it to the Mark II and a few of its other peers.

Google Lens uses artificial intelligence and 'computer vision' to identify and provide information about businesses, landmarks and other objects using your phone's camera. And now it's available for iPhone users, too.

In the job posting, the Times' describes this role as "one of the most important and high-profile jobs in visual journalism." If you're looking for a high profile job in photojournalism, you could do a lot worse than being Photo Director at The Gray Lady.

According to a recent report out of South Korea, Samsung is increasing production of its ISOCELL image sensors in a bid towards market leadership for image sensors. To reach this goal, Samsung will have to dethrone current market leader Sony... no small task.

In this video, large format photographer Ben Horne shows off the incredible resolving power of 8x10 slide film by pixel peeping a massive 709.6-megapixel drum scan of one of his landscape shots. And you thought 100MP medium format was big...

Photographer Wendy Teal tells the heart-breaking story of a wedding she shot at a hospital on just 24-hours notice. The mother of the bride had been given one week to live, and Wendy responded to the couple's desperate social media plea for someone to capture their special day.

Syrp has announced the Magic Carpet Pro: a slider that offers filmmakers an 'infinitely extendable' range thanks to built-in track levers that let you connect lengths of track without the use of tools.

At CP+ we sat down with executives from several major manufacturers. Among them was Kenji Tanaka, of Sony, who talked to us about the a7 III as well as its plans to attract more pro shooters – without ignoring APS-C and entry-level customers.

How do you shoot macro photography on an 18x24cm large format wet plate camera? You 'connect' two large format cameras together! That's how wet plate photographer Markus Hofstaetter did it, and you can read about the whole process in this article.

The Fujifilm X-H1 is a top-of-the-range 24MP mirrorless camera with in-body stabilization and the company's most advanced array of video capabilities. We've tested the X-T2's big brother extensively to see how it performs.

Motorsports photojournalist Jamey Price recently flew to Canada with Lamborghini for the car company's Winter Accademia 2018, where clients get to drive the latest Lamborghini supercars on snow and ice. Yes... it is exactly as awesome as it sounds.

For the Pixel 2 smartphone's Motion Photos feature, Google built on its existing Motion Stills technology by adding advanced stabilization that combines software and hardware capabilities to optimize trimming and stabilization.

"After his camera was stolen from his room in the orphanage, he switched to an iPhone for his photography, reasoning that the image quality of a big, heavy camera was less important than the freedom of a cell phone. 'Quality? Screw it, I’d sketch things with a pencil if I could draw,' he wrote in a blog post."

Chinese manufacturer Vivo has announced some AI-powered Super HDR tech to compete with Google's HDR+ system. Both systems combine multiple images to create a final shot with more dynamic range and less noise, but Super HDR claims to do so more intelligently.

The 'semantic image segmentation model' categorizes every pixel in an image and assigns it a label, such as “road”, “sky”, “person” or “dog.” And now, Google has released its latest version as open source, making it available to any developers whose apps could benefit from the tech.

Fuji's latest firmware update for the GFX 50S adds two new features: a focus stacking mode, and a 35mm format mode that takes 30.5MP photos using the center portion of the camera's medium format sensor.

The crash has raised serious questions about 'startling safety gaps' in the doors-off photo tour industry. After a brief safety video, passengers are strapped in with heavy-duty harnesses and given only a knife to cut themselves loose in case of emergency.

For the first time in five years, Adobe is raising the price of some Creative Cloud subscription packages. The good news for photographers: The $10/month CC Photography plan that includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, and Lightroom Classic CC will stay the same.